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% THE GLASS FACTORY. %
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¨-»\%&§@@# SEVERAL CENTURIES AFTER IT HAD LAST #@@§&%\»-¨
¨¨-»\%&§@@ BELONGED TO US, WE WENT ON AN OUTING TO @@§&%\»-¨¨
¨-»\%&§@@# THE GLASS FACTORY THAT BORE OUR FAMILY #@@§&%\»-¨
¨¨-»\%&§@@ NAME. IT HAD CHANGED OWNERS MANY TIMES @@§&%\»-¨¨
¨-»\%&§@@# SINCE OUR ANCESTORS DEATH, AND THEN #@@§&%\»-¨
¨¨-»\%&§@@ STOOD ABANDONED FOR A LONG WHILE. @@§&%\»-¨¨
¨-»\%&§@@# FINALLY, THE NATURAL END STATION FOR #@@§&%\»-¨
¨¨-»\%&§@@ THE BUILDINGS THAT SURVIVE: A MUSEUM, @@§&%\»-¨¨
¨-»\%&§@@# AND A GIFT SHOP. #@@§&%\»-¨
¨¨-»\%&§@@ @@§&%\»-¨¨
¨-»\%&§@@# THERE'S A LONG TIME SINCE MY FAMILY #@@§&%\»-¨
¨¨-»\%&§@@ MADE ANYTHING. BY MANY, WE WOULD BE @@§&%\»-¨¨
¨-»\%&§@@# CONSIDERED POOR. #@@§&%\»-¨
¨¨-»\%&§@@ @@§&%\»-¨¨
¨-»\%&§@@# THERE ARE TWO MAIN FACTORY BUILDINGS, #@@§&%\»-¨
¨¨-»\%&§@@ DOMED THINGS OF SEVERAL FLOORS, MADE IN @@§&%\»-¨¨
¨-»\%&§@@# YELLOW BRICK. LARGE BUT NARROW WINDOWS, #@@§&%\»-¨
¨¨-»\%&§@@ REMINESCENT OF SOME CATHEDRAL. @@§&%\»-¨¨
¨-»\%&§@@# CUSTOM-MADE GLASS, OF COURSE, LARGE AND #@@§&%\»-¨
¨¨-»\%&§@@ LEADED, AND ASHEN. A BIT TOO DARK TO BE @@§&%\»-¨¨
¨-»\%&§@@# PRACTICAL. ON THE EASTERN BUILDING, #@@§&%\»-¨
¨¨-»\%&§@@ SOME ARE SHATTERED. @@§&%\»-¨¨
¨-»\%&§@@# #@@§&%\»-¨
¨¨-»\%&§@@ THE OTHER ONE IS PUBLICLY OPEN. THERE'S @@§&%\»-¨¨
¨-»\%&§@@# A MUSEUM, WITH WAX FIGURES OF MY GREAT #@@§&%\»-¨
¨¨-»\%&§@@ GREAT GREAT GRANDFATHER, OR SOMETHING. @@§&%\»-¨¨
¨-»\%&§@@# VARIOUS TOOLS (OR REPLICAS) LAID OUT ON #@@§&%\»-¨
¨¨-»\%&§@@ TABLES, WITH EXPLAINING TEXTS. A LOT OF @@§&%\»-¨¨
¨-»\%&§@@# GLASS OF VARYING THICKNESS. #@@§&%\»-¨
¨¨-»\%&§@@ @@§&%\»-¨¨
¨-»\%&§@@# %% #@@§&%\»-¨
¨¨-»\%&§@@ %% %% @@§&%\»-¨¨
¨-»\%&§@@# »»»»»»» % % »»»»»»» #@@§&%\»-¨
¨¨-»\%&§@@ %% %% @@§&%\»-¨¨
¨-»\%&§@@# %% #@@§&%\»-¨
¨¨-»\%&§@@ @@§&%\»-¨¨
¨-»\%&§@@# I QUICKLY SNEAK OUT, AND CLIMB INTO THE #@@§&%\»-¨
¨¨-»\%&§@@ OTHER BUILDING. THE CONTRAST IS @@§&%\»-¨¨
¨-»\%&§@@# OVERWHELMING. IT MUST HAVE STOOD #@@§&%\»-¨
¨¨-»\%&§@@ DERELICT FOR A LONG TIME, WINDOWS @@§&%\»-¨¨
¨-»\%&§@@# BROKEN, METALLIC TRASH AND POOLS OF #@@§&%\»-¨
¨¨-»\%&§@@ DARK GLASS ALL OVER THE FLOOR. NO @@§&%\»-¨¨
¨-»\%&§@@# ELECTRIC LIGHTS, BUT I CAN SEE BY THE #@@§&%\»-¨
¨¨-»\%&§@@ LIGHT THAT SHINES IN WHEREVER THE DARK @@§&%\»-¨¨
¨-»\%&§@@# WINDOWS ARE MISSING A PANE. #@@§&%\»-¨
¨¨-»\%&§@@ @@§&%\»-¨¨
¨-»\%&§@@# HOWEVER, THE GREATEST DIFFERENCE IS THE #@@§&%\»-¨
¨¨-»\%&§@@ HIGHER FLOORS: THIS BUILDING HAS NONE. @@§&%\»-¨¨
¨-»\%&§@@# IT IS ONE MASSIVE HALL, STRETCHING AWAY #@@§&%\»-¨
¨¨-»\%&§@@ INFINITELY ABOVE ME. SOMEWHERE UP THERE @@§&%\»-¨¨
¨-»\%&§@@# IS SOME GREAT IRON LATTICEWORK, FROM #@@§&%\»-¨
¨¨-»\%&§@@ WHERE CHAINS ARE SUSPENDED, AND PARTS @@§&%\»-¨¨
¨-»\%&§@@# OF MACHINERY HAS BEEN FALLING DOWN. #@@§&%\»-¨
¨¨-»\%&§@@ @@§&%\»-¨¨
¨-»\%&§@@# THERE IS, IN THE MIDDLE OF THE GREAT #@@§&%\»-¨
¨¨-»\%&§@@ HALL, A THIN SPIRAL STAIRCASE THAT @@§&%\»-¨¨
¨-»\%&§@@# LEADS UP THERE. I SNEAK OVER THERE, AND #@@§&%\»-¨
¨¨-»\%&§@@ TAKE A FEW RELUCTANT STEPS. AFTER JUST @@§&%\»-¨¨
¨-»\%&§@@# A REVOLUTION, I NOTICE THAT FOR EACH #@@§&%\»-¨
¨¨-»\%&§@@ STEP THE BUILDING STARTS TO GLOW, THE @@§&%\»-¨¨
¨-»\%&§@@# BRICKS TURNING A DARK RED, AND THEN #@@§&%\»-¨
¨¨-»\%&§@@ ORANGE, ALL THE PILED UP DEBREE BEING @@§&%\»-¨¨
¨-»\%&§@@# LIT FROM BEHIND. #@@§&%\»-¨
¨¨-»\%&§@@ @@§&%\»-¨¨
¨-»\%&§@@# I STOP READY TO RUN DOWN AND OUT, BUT #@@§&%\»-¨
¨¨-»\%&§@@ THERE'S SOMEONE ELSE ON THE STAIRCASE @@§&%\»-¨¨
¨-»\%&§@@# WITH ME NOW, PRESSED CLOSE. HE'S #@@§&%\»-¨
¨¨-»\%&§@@ LOOKING LIKE ME, SHORT HAIR AND THIN @@§&%\»-¨¨
¨-»\%&§@@# ARMS, BUT WITH EARS FROM SOME ANIMAL, #@@§&%\»-¨
¨¨-»\%&§@@ AND MORE DISTURBINGLY, COMPLETELY MADE @@§&%\»-¨¨
¨-»\%&§@@# OF DARK LIQUID GLASS. #@@§&%\»-¨
¨¨-»\%&§@@ @@§&%\»-¨¨
¨-»\%&§@@# %% #@@§&%\»-¨
¨¨-»\%&§@@ %% %% @@§&%\»-¨¨
¨-»\%&§@@# »»»»»»» % % »»»»»»» #@@§&%\»-¨
¨¨-»\%&§@@ %% %% @@§&%\»-¨¨
¨-»\%&§@@# %% #@@§&%\»-¨
¨¨-»\%&§@@ @@§&%\»-¨¨
¨-»\%&§@@# MY FEAR HOLDS ME IN PLACE WHILE HE #@@§&%\»-¨
¨¨-»\%&§@@ STARTS OPERATING LEVERS AND DIALS SET @@§&%\»-¨¨
¨-»\%&§@@# IN THE CENTER OF THE STAIRCASE. SLOWLY, #@@§&%\»-¨
¨¨-»\%&§@@ IT STARTS SPINNING, CIRCLING UPWARDS. @@§&%\»-¨¨
¨-»\%&§@@# IT'S AN ELEVATOR! I START TO RUN #@@§&%\»-¨
¨¨-»\%&§@@ DOWNWARDS, BUT NOW THE LIQUID BOY @@§&%\»-¨¨
¨-»\%&§@@# CREATURE GRABS HOLD OF ME. I TRY TO #@@§&%\»-¨
¨¨-»\%&§@@ SHAKE HIM OFF, BUT HE'S TOO STRONG, AND @@§&%\»-¨¨
¨-»\%&§@@# PULLS ME BACK UP BESIDE HIM. #@@§&%\»-¨
¨¨-»\%&§@@ @@§&%\»-¨¨
¨-»\%&§@@# THIS TIME, I TURN ANGRY INSTEAD. WHAT #@@§&%\»-¨
¨¨-»\%&§@@ THE HELL? WHO IS THIS GUY, ACTING LIKE @@§&%\»-¨¨
¨-»\%&§@@# THIS? I REACH OUT MY FREE ARM AND SLAM #@@§&%\»-¨
¨¨-»\%&§@@ A RANDOM LEVER. SOME METAL BAR IS @@§&%\»-¨¨
¨-»\%&§@@# SUDDENLY RELEASED BETWEEN US, HITTING #@@§&%\»-¨
¨¨-»\%&§@@ HIM ON THE ARM, FORCING MY RELEASE. I @@§&%\»-¨¨
¨-»\%&§@@# SHOVE HIM OFF OF ME, AND HE FALLS INTO #@@§&%\»-¨
¨¨-»\%&§@@ THE LEVERS, MESSING THEM UP. @@§&%\»-¨¨
¨-»\%&§@@# IMMEDIATELY, A THIN RUSTY CHAINMAIL #@@§&%\»-¨
¨¨-»\%&§@@ CURTAIN IS DROPPED AROUND ME. BUT THE @@§&%\»-¨¨
¨-»\%&§@@# ELEVATOR ALSO SPEEDS UP SIGNIFICANTLY. #@@§&%\»-¨
¨¨-»\%&§@@ @@§&%\»-¨¨
¨-»\%&§@@# THE WALLS ARE FLARING NOW, YELLOW, #@@§&%\»-¨
¨¨-»\%&§@@ WHITE, ALMOST BLUE. I CLOSE MY EYES AND @@§&%\»-¨¨
¨-»\%&§@@# CURL INTO A BALL. BUT THEN, THE GLASS #@@§&%\»-¨
¨¨-»\%&§@@ BOY SCREAMS, A PIERCING SOUND THAT @@§&%\»-¨¨
¨-»\%&§@@# FORCES MY EYES BACK OPEN. I WATCH AS HE #@@§&%\»-¨
¨¨-»\%&§@@ BECOMES TOO LIQUID, HIS BODY POOLING @@§&%\»-¨¨
¨-»\%&§@@# DOWN IN HIS NOW MASSIVE TAIL, AND THE #@@§&%\»-¨
¨¨-»\%&§@@ TIP OF IT SUDDENLY BREAKS OF IN A GLASS @@§&%\»-¨¨
¨-»\%&§@@# DROP THAT FALLS TOWARD THE FACTORY #@@§&%\»-¨
¨¨-»\%&§@@ FLOOR. @@§&%\»-¨¨
¨-»\%&§@@# #@@§&%\»-¨
¨¨-»\%&§@@ HE'S CRAWLING ON THE STAIRS, UNABLE TO @@§&%\»-¨¨
¨-»\%&§@@# KEEP HIS BODY UPRIGHT. CAN'T REACH THE #@@§&%\»-¨
¨¨-»\%&§@@ LEVERS, CLAWS AT MY CHAINMAIL CAGE, @@§&%\»-¨¨
¨-»\%&§@@# WHILE HIS BODY IS TURNING INTO DARK #@@§&%\»-¨
¨¨-»\%&§@@ PEARLS. FINALLY, HE'S LOST TOO MUCH OF @@§&%\»-¨¨
¨-»\%&§@@# HIMSELF AND THE SCREAM IS CUT SHORT. #@@§&%\»-¨
¨¨-»\%&§@@ THE LAST OF HIM RAINS DOWN. @@§&%\»-¨¨
¨-»\%&§@@# #@@§&%\»-¨
¨¨-»\%&§@@ I STILL CAN'T REACH THE LEVERS FROM @@§&%\»-¨¨
¨-»\%&§@@# WITHIN MY CAGE. LOOKING UP, I TRY TO #@@§&%\»-¨
¨¨-»\%&§@@ MAKE OUT THE CEILING, BUT IT'S ALL A @@§&%\»-¨¨
¨-»\%&§@@# WHIRLING SEA OF COLOURS. BELOW ME GLOWS #@@§&%\»-¨
¨¨-»\%&§@@ THE HELLFIRE OF THE FACTORY WALLS, BUT @@§&%\»-¨¨
¨-»\%&§@@# VERY FAINT. I SIT DOWN, CURL BACK UP, #@@§&%\»-¨
¨¨-»\%&§@@ BECOME STILL. @@§&%\»-¨¨
¨-»\%&§@@# #@@§&%\»-¨
¨¨-»\%&§@@ %% @@§&%\»-¨¨
¨-»\%&§@@# %% %% #@@§&%\»-¨
¨¨-»\%&§@@ »»»»»»» % % »»»»»»» @@§&%\»-¨¨
¨-»\%&§@@# %% %% #@@§&%\»-¨
¨¨-»\%&§@@ %% @@§&%\»-¨¨
¨-»\%&§@@# #@@§&%\»-¨
¨¨-»\%&§@@ A LARGE CLUNK SHAKES MY ENTIRE BODY, @@§&%\»-¨¨
¨-»\%&§@@# AND SNAPS ME BACK INTO REALITY. I'M #@@§&%\»-¨
¨¨-»\%&§@@ BACK AT THE FACTORY FLOOR, BUT THE @@§&%\»-¨¨
¨-»\%&§@@# STAIRS ARE STILL MOVING SLIGHTLY, #@@§&%\»-¨
¨¨-»\%&§@@ CLICKING IN PLACE, CARRYING ME THE LAST @@§&%\»-¨¨
¨-»\%&§@@# FEW CENTIMETERS. I CAME FROM BELOW, #@@§&%\»-¨
¨¨-»\%&§@@ SOMEHOW. THE CHAINMAIL IS RETRACTED, @@§&%\»-¨¨
¨-»\%&§@@# AND I SLOWLY DISMOUNT THE STAIRS. #@@§&%\»-¨
¨¨-»\%&§@@ @@§&%\»-¨¨
¨-»\%&§@@# SHAKING AND CRYING, I MAKE MY WAY OVER #@@§&%\»-¨
¨¨-»\%&§@@ THE FACTORY FLOOR, WADING THROUGH DARK @@§&%\»-¨¨
¨-»\%&§@@# GLASS MARBLES. A QUICK GLANCE DOWN, AND #@@§&%\»-¨
¨¨-»\%&§@@ I SEE THERE'S SOMETHING FAINT INSIDE @@§&%\»-¨¨
¨-»\%&§@@# THEM. EMBRYOS? ARE THESE EGGS? #@@§&%\»-¨
¨¨-»\%&§@@ @@§&%\»-¨¨
¨-»\%&§@@# I SHUDDER, AND CLIMB BACK OUT. #@@§&%\»-¨
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